India's Silent Pandemic: The Air We Breathe Is Killing Us | HC E09| Maria Neira | Ruchita Bansal

About the Episode: Every winter, cities across India — Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur — disappear under a haze.Air pollution is no longer an environmental issue. It’s a health crisis, a rights violation, and a loss of tomorrow.In this episode of The Human City Podcast, host Ruchita Bansal speaks with Dr. María Neira, Former Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization (WHO) — one of the world’s leading voices connecting urban design, climate policy, and human health.Together, they unpack how the air we breathe reflects the cities we build — and why clean air must be treated as a basic human right.From citizen participation to urban planning, from governance to behavioral change, Dr. Neira explains how cities can move from crisis to resilience — and why health begins long before the hospital.------------------------About the Guest: Dr. María P. Neira served as Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization (WHO) for nearly two decades.A medical doctor by training, she has led global policy efforts on air quality, chemical safety, climate change, and public health advocacy, and has been instrumental in shaping WHO’s global roadmap on clean air and health.Her work has inspired cities worldwide to view urban planning not as infrastructure, but as preventive medicine.Connect with her on Linkedin:   / maria-neira-47575440  ------------------------About the Host:The Human City Podcast is hosted by Ruchita Bansal, an accomplished urban planner and project management professional with 15+ years of experience. She has led multi-billion-dollar development projects and sustainable mobility programs across India, including her leadership role at the Ayodhya Development Authority.Ruchita is also the founder of SheCity India, a platform for gender-inclusive urban planning, storytelling, and data-driven advocacy.--------------------------About The Human City Podcast:This podcast brings together global voices and local insights to explore how cities can be made more inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered. Each episode uncovers what it takes to design cities that truly work for people.“The Human City Podcast is an initiative of SheCity India — building gender-inclusive, human-centered cities.”